GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Young men returning from initiation school have been welcomed with colourful festivities since the beginning of December and the celebrations are still continuing.
Their return is celebrated with music and dance by family members in traditional attire while young men perform stick fighting as they accompany the initiates home.
According to the Graaff-Reinet Initiation Forum Chairperson Ronnie Marlow, the school-going boys only went to the mountains after they finished their exams.
Non school-goers and working man may enter the initiation school at any time during the year after going to their local clinic to be declared fit.
Although many boys aged between 17 and 18 from various wards in Graaff-Reinet took part in the process, no serious injuries were reported.
On 15 December Sergeant Zono recorded 139 initiates in Graaff-Reinet.
It is the parents' responsibility to ensure that the Ncibi (traditional doctor) and Makankatha (traditional nurses) are registered with the Graaff-Reinet Initiation Forum.
The forum thanked all the stakeholders and staff that availed themselves, the health and other departments, the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality and communities for assisting them.
Young girls perform traditional dances during the celebrations.
